The Union Minister of Law and Information Technology Minister- Ravi Shankar Prasad- skipped BBC’s convention on fake news in New Delhi. His cancellation came after the BBC released a bunkum survey on fake news. In their report titled “Beyond Fake News”, BBC made a bizarre claim that the maximum amount of fake news in India was being circulated in the name of nationalism and PM Modi.
Thomas Sowell in his work ‘The Vision of the Anointed’ has said, “The media are less a window on reality, than a stage on which officials and journalists perform self-scripted, self-serving fictions.” This aptly defines BBC and all other leftist media houses. The BBC report was heavily biased to suit the narrative of a particular ideology and it also had a lot of issues regarding methodology and data collection.
Arnab Ray pointed at the fact that the survey was based on analyzing three countries, interviewing 80 odd people in these countries, and out of these 80 people, 40 were from India.
On NDTV, Bengali data scientist affiliated with BBC is saying right wing in India spreads more fake news than left. This is based on analyzing 3 countries and interviewing 80 people in these countries. Yes 80 people in 3 countries.
— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) November 13, 2018
He then shared a screenshot of the dubious BBC report, which made it crystal clear, as to why Ravi Shankar Prasad decided to skip the sham of an event.
Screenshot from study report on BBC pic.twitter.com/WearBNDbB9
— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) November 13, 2018
Just to put things into perspective, India has a population of 1.3 billion people. There are over 30 million Twitter users, around 300 million FB users, and BBC’s sample size was just 40 people. Clearly, it is a statistically inadequate sample. Even, college students use a bigger sample size and make logical and sensible claims. The sheer basics of research methodology have been ignored.
Secondly, the BBC had invited social media trolls like Divya Spandana and Ankit Lal in their gathering who frequently peddle questionable information and are abusive on social media. They also invited Dhruv Rathee, a pro-AAP video blogger who has been involved in spreading fake news, as a panelist. Dhruv Rathee got sued for defamation by a software engineer Vikas Pandey. Controversial and failed Bollywood actress, Swara Bhaskar, was also part of their panel on Fake news. The BBC in their panel discussion “Beyond Fake News” had invited many people who have made their career by spreading fake news and misinformation against the BJP.
1. Unviable position at @BBC organised panel discussion #BeyondFakeNews". Both morning panels filled with BJP bashers who all made the case that BJP alone propogates fake news.None from BJP to defend party position. Merely saying this is partisan view got me branded as BJP
— Madhu Purnima Kishwar (@madhukishwar) November 12, 2018
A fake news peddler and leftist propaganda website presented itself as the fake news buster.
2. In 1st panel @AltNews presented themselves as Fake News Buster. My saying @OpIndia_com does for BJP what @AltNews does for Congress & Left–led to much outrage led by Swarà Bhasker, tho both Congress & AAP representatives openly admitted they rely on @AltNews to bust #FakeNews
— Madhu Purnima Kishwar (@madhukishwar) November 12, 2018
As per Madhu Kishwar, BBC Hindi seemed to promote Alt News as the role model.
4. I'd like Tweeple to answer: Is it wrong to suggest that @AltNews is for Congress & Left what @OpIndia_com is for BJP? @BBCHindi seemed to promote @AltNews as role model & @ReallySwara offended that I put "lowly" @OpIndia_com at par with mighty @AltNews. Did I get it so wrong?
— Madhu Purnima Kishwar (@madhukishwar) November 12, 2018
It seems the conference against fake news was more about promoting left-wing volunteers masquerading as journalists and certifying them as unbiased news sources.
A senior cabinet minister attending the convention centered around a dubious report and debated by social media trolls would have provided the gathering a legitimacy the event clearly did not deserve. As such, Ravi Shankar Prasad attending the event was neither prudent nor befitting of his stature.